Cannobio on Lake Maggiore
Spend your best time of the year here: Holidays in Cannobio on Lake Maggiore
Cannobio - all the information for your vacation
Cannobio – your destination for a real dream vacation on Lake Maggiore!
Just a few kilometers past the Swiss border lies the picturesque village of Cannobio. Once you have crossed the border into Italy and reached Cannobio via the sometimes somewhat narrow and impressive coastal road, you immediately realize: now you are in Italy, here and now the vacation can begin!
Cannobio, with its nearly 6,000 inhabitants more of a village than a town, inspires with its location directly on Lake Maggiore. Cannobio is located on the delta of the Cannobina River, which meanders through the narrow Cannobina Valley and flows into the lake directly in Cannobio. This proximity to the lake can be felt immediately: the climate is pleasantly warm, often with a light pleasant wind. The whole village of Cannobio opens onto Lake Maggiore and along the beautiful and wide promenade you can stroll, stroll, enjoy the Italian flair and very tasty Italian cuisine.
Arriving in Cannobio means unwinding, letting your mind wander, and enjoying the lake, the countryside, and the people. It’s time for a vacation. Cannobio is Italy at its best, just a few hours’ drive from Germany.
While life in Cannobio buzzes with energy in the summer—with the promenade bustling with musicians, street performers, and crowds of people—the town changes dramatically starting in late fall. You’ll experience the authentic old fishing village of Cannobio, almost devoid of tourists and moving at a much slower pace—almost as if it were in hibernation. With plenty of time for pleasant conversations with the locals. Cannobio from a different perspective, which everyone who loves Cannobio should have experienced!
Sights in Cannobio
The most significant tourist attraction in Cannobio is its typical Italian lakeside promenade, known and loved as one of the most beautiful along the entire length of Lake Maggiore. The many cafes, bars, and restaurants invite visitors to enjoy a leisurely cappuccino or a delicious dinner. All of this is accompanied by a breathtaking view of the lake, framed by impressive mountain ranges. The houses along the Lungolago Cannobio are colorful and instantly create a cheerful atmosphere. With great foresight, the town has managed to preserve the original buildings and facades to this day! This is a stroke of good fortune, as the Lungolago stands out refreshingly from many lakefront promenades in other towns, which have been overbuilt with modern structures in recent years.
On Sundays, the famous weekly market in Cannobio takes place along the entire waterfront – in summer as well as in winter, even in pouring rain, which is rarely experienced in Cannobio, but when it is, it is heavy.
If you walk north along the promenade, you will reach the public beach in Cannobio (“Lido Cannobio“). A green sunbathing lawn and a very wide section of the beach create a pleasant bathing atmosphere even with large crowds at the height of summer. In summer, a huge mobile water slide and a mobile aqua park provide great fun for children –
Incidentally, the water quality is excellent. Cannobio is regularly awarded the blue ribbon, a confirmation of excellent water and beach quality. The Cannobina flows into Lake Maggiore at the public bathing beach. A pleasant footpath along the Cannobina river into the Cannobina valley is ideal for a walk, but is also a popular route for joggers along the river. It is also very pleasant to cycle here.
The Dancers’ Bridge – Ponte Ballerina
After a few hundred meters you reach the Ponte Ballerino, a suspension bridge that spans the Cannobina River and is beautifully lit up at Christmas time. Locals and guests decorate the suspension bridge with “love locks,” an old Italian tradition meant to bind lovers together forever.
If you’d like to extend your walk, follow the trail from Cannobio to Traffiume, a hamlet of Cannobio. From there, you’ll reach one of the most impressive sites on Lake Maggiore: the Orrido di Sant’Anna. The gorges and waterfall of Sant’Anna are a breathtaking natural spectacle. Here, the Cannobina River carves its way deep into the rock and stone, forming a natural swimming spot with a beautiful sandy/gravel beach below the Chapel of Sant’Anna. The small 17th-century Chapel of Sant’Anna rises above the gorge. Inside, you’ll find ornate frescoes, a magnificent main altar with dark marble columns, and a depiction of the Madonna di Loreto. The unique combination of untamed nature and spiritual heritage makes this place an unforgettable destination.
Especially in summer, this place is very popular with locals and tourists alike to cool off in an impressive landscape. Hobby divers can enthusiastically explore the depths of the river/rock structures here. But be careful: even in summer, the water of the Cannobina is very cold. This bathing spot rarely gets warmer than 10-15 degrees. But a refreshing dip can be a great way to cool off in Cannobio, especially in the Piedmont summer. Lake Maggiore is significantly warmer in summer, here you can find information on the
Guests of the Lakeview Cannobio Camping Resort are close to another very beautiful sight: from Nizzolino, also a village of Cannobio, a hiking trail winds its way to Sant’Agata. It takes about an hour on foot to reach Sant’Agata from Cannobio-Nizzolino. An hour well worth it: once in Sant’Agata you will enjoy a magnificent view over Cannobio and the Cannobina delta, on fine days with distant views far to the south and north.
A bar right at the viewpoint is the ideal place for a late breakfast, and the Trattoria della Volpe right in Sant’Agata is a real insider tip for fine Italian cuisine. There are many other hiking options from Sant’Agata, for example up the impressive Monte Giove. Monte Giove is also a well-known and popular take-off point for gliders.
Palazzo della Ragione (Parasi)
In the heart of the historic old town of Cannobio stands the impressive Palazzo della Ragione which is also known as the Parasi. The building dates back to 1291 and was once the center of administration and jurisdiction. Particularly noteworthy are two Roman sarcophagi from the 3rd and 4th centuries, which, together with medieval tombstones, coats of arms and reliefs, illustrate the long history of the town.
Following extensive renovations between 2012 and 2014, the building is now a cultural meeting place. The local tourist office is located on the first floor, while the upper floors offer space for exhibitions, lectures and events. Visitors can experience Cannobio’s past and present in an impressive way.
Santuario della Pietà
An important religious landmark is the Santuario della Pietàa baroque pilgrimage church from the 16th century. According to tradition, the so-called “Miracle of Santa Costa” took place here: blood and tears are said to have flowed from a painting depicting the dead Christ. This event is commemorated every year in January with a solemn procession. The painting in question can still be seen today in a niche on the high altar.
The interior of the church impresses with artistic frescoes, valuable paintings, intricate stucco work and fine, multi-colored marble. Even visitors with no religious affiliation will be impressed by the special atmosphere and artistic quality. Situated directly on the lake, the Santuario combines spiritual depth with a magnificent view and invites you to enjoy quiet moments.
Sports in Cannobio
Cannobio offers a lot for sports enthusiasts. At the public bathing beach there are several possibilities to round off the bathing day with beach volleyball and football. Several tennis courts are available at the entrance of the village, not to be overlooked when driving from Lakeview Cannobio Resort to Cannobio.
Right next to the tennis courts, you’ll also find a mini-golf course. There are also fitness centers in town. Water sports courses (including windsurfing and sailing) are offered right at Cannobio’s public beach, the Lido Cannobio. You can also conveniently learn several water sports right at the Lakeview Cannobio Camping Resort with the Lakeview Water Sports School. Our eFoil courses, in particular, are a huge hit on Lake Maggiore: our foils glide silently across the lake and rise out of the water, giving you the impression that you’re literally flying over the lake. Lake Maggiore’s unique location makes it the perfect place to learn water sports.
SUP, kayaks, pedal boats and motorboats etc. can be hired directly from us and used directly from our own beach. For adrenaline-filled canyoning or trekking tours, we can arrange providers near Cannobio. And for even more adrenaline, we recommend the original James Bond Goldeneye bungee jump in the Verzasca Valley or a tandem parachute jump over Lake Maggiore. Zipline Lago Maggiore also offers an impressive zipline over the valleys, information about this is available at our reception. The Wonderwood high ropes course is very family-friendly, the perfect climbing adventure for young and old and just 20 minutes from Cannobio.
Wellness in Cannobio
Frankly, Cannobio is beautiful and offers many leisure activities. However, wellness is not necessarily what Cannobio is known for. But that’s not a problem, because you can reach Locarno in about 20 minutes, where the Salini Termali Spa Locarno is located right on the beach. Swiss prices, Swiss quality: this wonderful wellness temple near Cannobio is not cheap, but it is worth every franc. So if you want to be pampered on rainy days, this is the place to be.
Shopping & Shopping in Cannobio
Cannobio offers many shopping opportunities: two supermarkets, one of which is right by the public beach. Various bakeries and delicatessens with Italian specialties that you should definitely visit provide a good supply. There is a large fresh and reasonably priced fruit store on the main street.
Cannobio’s Old Town is a great place to stroll: you’ll find many shops here selling clothing, shoes, handicrafts, and everyday essentials. Two Carrefour supermarkets offer groceries—one is located right on the public beach, and the other—a newer and larger Carrefour—is in the center of the village. This one also has a small parking garage and is easily accessible by car.
Every Sunday there is also the Cannobio market on the promenade, which presents not only food but also clothing, shoes and especially leather goods. As a guest of Lakeview Cannobio, you can reach the market in Cannobio without stress by taking the funicular. Information is available at reception. If you want to do more shopping you can go to Verbania (about 35min from Cannobio) or go to the Centro Isole in Gravellona Toce (about 50min), a huge shopping center. Within 90min you can also store at outlet prices at Foxtown Outlet Center or Vicolungo the Style Outlets. Here you can find more information about shopping on Lake Maggiore.
Medical care in Cannobio
The pharmacies in Cannobio are very familiar with tourists and provide multilingual help with all questions regarding medication. For dental emergencies, there is a new dental practice in Cannobio right next to the supermarket by the public beach. And the Centro Medico di Cannobio (Via Zaccheo Paolo) offers medical care in almost all specialties. Of course, an emergency doctor is also available for emergencies, please dial 118. If you need to go to hospital, the hospitals in Locarno in neighboring Switzerland are the quickest option, where German is also spoken very well. Alternatively, you can find hospitals in Verbania and Domodossola. You are more likely to find German-speaking doctors on the Swiss side in Ascona and Locarno, so please check with your insurance company which costs will be covered: Medical services in Switzerland are significantly more expensive than in Italy or Germany!
Food in Cannobio
What would Italy be without the famous food? Of course, Cannobio is also a paradise for gourmets.
While you can eat well (and comparatively cheaply!) on the promenade, but are exposed to larger crowds there, a little outside the Cannobio promenade there are many traditional restaurants for lunch or dinner in Cannobio.
On the way to the Cannobina Valley, less than 5 minutes by car from Cannobio, you will find Antico Sempione, a traditional Italian restaurant with excellent cuisine. A few hundred meters away, Vino e Divino delights with
For those who prefer the front row of Cannobio’s lively promenade, we recommend Cafe Sport and Cafe Verbano. Both offer very good and affordable hot meals from lunchtime until late in the evening. In addition to good pizza and pasta, both restaurants also serve fresh fish and meat dishes. Right next door, Laura & Paul is a little more upmarket, which is also reflected in the prices. Beer-Bante, a little further north on the Lungolago di Cannobio, focuses more on pizza and meat, but is also highly recommended. In all of these restaurants you can sit on the promenade with the best view of Lake Maggiore. The food in Cannobio tastes twice as good!
… and pizza is a must in Cannobio!
Quick takeout pizza is also a staple of Italy and Cannobio. Ristorante Torchio (right in the town of Cannobio, on Via Darbedo) caters to the takeout needs of many campers, but it’s also a lovely place to sit and relax. Right next door, Nello serves up first-class Neapolitan pizza to go. On the lakefront promenade, Pizzeria Era Ora offers excellent pizza and a beautiful view of the lake. And for those looking for a culinary change of pace: even sushi is available in Cannobio—there are two excellent Asian restaurants right on the main street.
If you’d like to combine a scenic outing with good food, we recommend Trattoria Volpe in Cannobio Sant’Agata. From Sant`Agata you have a fantastic view over Cannobio, can enjoy an aperitif in the bar on site with a view over the Cannobio delta and then enjoy regional specialties of very good quality in the Trattoria Volpe (within walking distance).
Events in Cannobio
The year begins on the eve of January 8 with the Feast of the Most Holy Pietà, a religious event. Tourists usually refer to this evening as the“Festival of Lights in Cannobio“, as the whole town and especially Cannobio’s old town and waterfront promenade are decorated and magically illuminated with red grave lights. Absolutely worth seeing!
Cannobio is also a real carnival stronghold. During the carnival season, there are many events in the large carnival tent on the sports field. The highlight is the parade through the streets of Cannobio.
In summer, many concerts and other artistic events take place in Cannobio, especially on the promenade. A special highlight: the fireworks display on the lakeside promenade of Cannobio, usually at the end of July, accompanied by music. It is fired from several boats from Lake Maggiore. In addition to the well-known weekly market in Cannobio , several antique, art and specialty markets are held in summer.
The year regularly ends with a huge New Year’s Eve party on the lakeside promenade in Cannobio. In previous years, the event was accompanied by a food truck festival . You can find an overview of events in Cannobio here.
As you can see: Cannobio is very diverse and always worth a visit!
How to reach Cannobio
By car: the easiest way to reach Cannobio is certainly by car. Coming from the north (highway A2 Gotthard or highway A13 San Bernardino) leave the highway at the exit Bellinzona-Süd and follow the signs to Locarno. From there, head towards Brissago / Italia along the coastal road until you reach Cannobio.
By train: either Verbania station (Italy) and from there by bus line 3 (VCO Trasporti) via Verbania-Intra to Cannobio. If you are traveling from the north, we recommend taking the Swiss train to Locarno (Switzerland) and then the bus to Brissago. In Brissago, change to line 3 VCO Trasporti to Cannobio. You can find the VCO Trasporti timetable here.
By plane: The nearest international airport is Milano Malpensa, from there by train to Verbania and then by bus to Cannobio. There is also a small regional airport in Lugano, but only a few passenger airlines fly to it. Private pilots can fly as far as Locarno-Tenero Airport.
By boat: as an alternative to the bus, Cannobio can also be reached by boat from Verbania and Locarno. Please note, however, that the ports are not directly at the train stations and therefore a longer walk must be planned. In Locarno, the port can be reached quite easily from the train station, in Verbania a cab will be necessary. Although the boat trip is very nice for tourists, it is not the best choice for getting there. You can find the timetables of Navigazione Lago Maggiore here.
Cannobio Webcam
Of course, a webcam is also a must: The official webcam of the municipality of Cannobio shows the promenade on Lake Maggiore, you can find the webcam here. The Webcam of Lakeview Cannobio shows Lake Maggiore looking north from the Lakeview Restaurant, with a view of Brissago, Ascona, Locarno and Locarno’s local mountain: Cardada.
Historical facts about Cannobio:
Even if the history of the municipality of Cannobio is probably not important for all guests, we would like to mention it.
The origins of Cannobio can be traced back to Roman times, when the area was inhabited by various tribes. In the Middle Ages, the region around Cannobio was controlled by various rulers, including the Lombards, the Franks and the Este. In the 12th century, Cannobio became part of the Lombard League, which opposed the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire.
The town of Cannobio played an important role in trade, especially in the salt trade, which was of great importance in the Middle Ages. Cannobio was one of the many towns that were dependent on powerful trading cities such as Milan and Venice.
Over the centuries, the political affiliation of Cannobio has changed several times between various rulers, including the Visconti, the Sforza and the Borromeo, who played an important role in the history of the region. During this time, Cannobio experienced moments of prosperity, but also times of political unrest and conflict.
With the Peace of Campo Formio in 1797, Cannobio became
During the Second World War, the region around Cannobio was in a strategically important position, which led to various military activities and occupations. After the war and the founding of the Italian Republic in 1946, Italy experienced an economic boom, which also had a positive impact on towns like Cannobio. Tourism played an increasingly important role and many places on Lake Maggiore became popular tourist destinations.
Italy’s integration into the European Union and the introduction of the euro as a currency in the 2000s were also significant events that influenced the economic and political landscape.
Questions and answers
On the western shore of Lake Maggiore in northern Italy, in the Piedmont region, near the Swiss border.
The riverside promenade, the Dancer’s Bridge (Ponte Ballerina), the Palazzo della Ragione, and the Santuario della Pietà.
By car via the coastal highway, by train and bus (e.g., via Verbania or Locarno), by boat, or via Milan-Malpensa Airport.
Yes, the Lido Cannobio, which has been awarded the “Blue Flag” for water quality several times.
These include the Festival of Lights in January, Carnival, summer concerts with fireworks, and a big New Year’s Eve party on the promenade.
Yes, every Sunday there’s a traditional weekly market along the promenade. It’s one of the most beautiful and well-known markets on Lake Maggiore.
Yes, there are pharmacies, a dental office, the Centro Medico di Cannobio, and emergency medical services (118); hospitals are located in Locarno, Verbania, and Domodossola.